| A police officer is charged with ensuring the | | | | degrees will be offered the best opportunities. |
| safety of his community. He or she must | | | | Police sciences such as forensics as well as those |
| remain vigilant at all times and must maintain law | | | | with military policing experience are two examples |
| and order, and, as A. Harrison Barnes, founder of | | | | of highly-sought after individuals. There are police |
| EmploymentCrossing.com, explains, police officers | | | | departments across the country that only require |
| shoulder heavy responsibilities to their communities | | | | a high school diploma and a successful civil service |
| they've chosen to serve. Duties, although they | | | | test score. Civil Service exams are mandatory |
| vary from one municipality to another, include | | | | for law enforcement agencies and will include a |
| providing protection to residents, some of who | | | | written test. |
| are the officer's neighbors and possibly his own | | | | A benefits package will most likely be offered and |
| family. A typical shift is as unpredictable and can | | | | will include vacation time, medical insurance, life |
| change quickly, says the founder. | | | | insurance and paid holidays. Although one can |
| A collective job description for this position | | | | expect holidays to be paid, there will be many |
| includes pursuing and apprehending individuals | | | | times a police officer must work during holidays |
| suspected of breaking the law, ensuring those in | | | | such as Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving. |
| custody have received every lawful advantage, | | | | Overtime is common in many police |
| including his Miranda rights, and any other number | | | | departments. Candidates must successfully pass |
| of duties as determined by the city, county or | | | | background investigations and as a rule, if there |
| state he works for. An officer of the law is also | | | | are any criminal convictions, a candidate is |
| responsible for policing motorists and issuing | | | | immediately disqualified. A felony is certainly |
| citations for those who have broken the law by | | | | grounds for disqualification due to the firearms |
| speeding, failing to yield, running traffic lights or | | | | police officers are issued. Further, they must |
| failing to produce required documentation such as | | | | undergo strict training for proper use, storage and |
| driver's licenses and insurance documents when | | | | cleaning of their state issued weapons and are |
| asked. He might also find himself gathering clues, | | | | accountable for it all times. |
| securing crime scenes and collecting evidence at | | | | Finally, the successful candidate will be punctual, |
| these scenes. He must possess the ability to | | | | reliable and level-headed. He or she will be able |
| write clearly and provide detailed written | | | | to deal with the stresses in a healthy manner and |
| documentation of any number of events and | | | | will be physically fit. The candidate will approach |
| often, a police officer will be required to provide | | | | each challenge and dangerous situation with the |
| testimony in a courtroom. A. Harrison Barnes | | | | goal of a successful resolution with as little force |
| says even the most carefully planned schedule | | | | as the situation requires. He will strive to be a |
| can undergo changes at the last minute. While | | | | community leader his fellow citizens can trust and |
| he may be waiting to be called to testify in a | | | | look to and he will successfully be able to maintain |
| case, he can quickly be reassigned. | | | | peace and will strive to ensure the best possible |
| Educational requirements will vary from state to | | | | outcome, regardless of the situation. |
| state and city to city. Those with college | | | | |